Thermochromic shower adapter hose and container

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a device for saving water before it reaches a suitable bathing temperature. The device may include an adapter configured to be positioned in line with shower plumbing between an escutcheon plate and a shower head, and a thermochromic hose extending from the adapter to a water storage container, the thermochromic hose configured to alert a user when a temperature of the water is not suitable for bathing. The adapter may include a handle configured to direct water away from the shower head and into the hose when the temperature of the water is not suitable for bathing, such as when the temperature of the water is below about 100° F.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to plumbing, and moreparticularly, to a thermochromic shower adapter hose and container.

People waste water when they start a shower and wait for the hot waterto come through the plumbing. Reclaiming this lost water is crucial,particularly in view of droughts currently sweeping the nation and theworld.

Therefore, what is needed is a device configured to capture waterflowing through shower plumbing before it reaches a suitable temperaturefor the user while simultaneously alerting the user to the temperatureof the water.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a device for savingwater before it reaches a suitable bathing temperature. The device mayinclude an adapter configured to be positioned in line with showerplumbing between an escutcheon plate and a shower head, and athermochromic hose extending from the adapter to a water storagecontainer, the thermochromic hose configured to alert a user when atemperature of the water is not suitable for bathing. The adapter mayinclude a handle configured to direct water away from the shower headand into the hose when the temperature of the water is not suitable forbathing, such as when the temperature of the water is below about 100°F.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is madebelow with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numeralsrepresent corresponding parts of the figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention,shown in use.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a section view of one embodiment of the present invention,taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section view of one embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description of the invention, numerousdetails, examples, and embodiments of the invention are described.However, it will be clear and apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth and that theinvention can be adapted for any of several applications.

The device of the present disclosure may be used to saving water flowingthrough shower plumbing before the water reaches a suitable temperaturefor use and may comprise the following elements. This list of possibleconstituent elements is intended to be exemplary only, and it is notintended that this list be used to limit the device of the presentapplication to just these elements. Persons having ordinary skill in theart relevant to the present disclosure may understand there to beequivalent elements that may be substituted within the presentdisclosure without changing the essential function or operation of thedevice.

1. Adapter

2. Hose

3. Container/Reservoir

The various elements of the thermochromic shower adapter hose andcontainer for saving water not of suitable temperature for bathing ofthe present disclosure may be related in the following exemplaryfashion. It is not intended to limit the scope or nature of therelationships between the various elements and the following examplesare presented as illustrative examples only.

By way of example, and referring to FIGS. 1-4, some embodiments of theshower adapter and water storage container of the present disclosurecomprise an adapter 10 configured to be placed in line with showerplumbing before the shower head 26, such as between the escutcheon plate30 and the shower head 26, wherein the adapter 10 has a hose 20extending therefrom, the hose 20 attached to a water storagecontainer/reservoir, wherein the adapter 10 is configured to route water36 away from the shower head 26 when, for example, it is not of asuitable temperature for bathing, the water 36 being stored in thecontainer rather than going down the drain and being wasted.

The adapter 10 may be configured to attach to the existing showerplumbing using any known connection mechanism. In some embodiments, theadapter 10 may comprise an adapter escutcheon threaded shaft 18configured to engage with an escutcheon plate threaded receiver 32, suchthat the adapter 10 screws into the escutcheon plate 30. Opposite theadapter escutcheon threaded shaft 18 on the adapter 10 may be an adapterthreaded receiver 18 configured to engage with a shower head threadedshaft 28, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, shower head 26 may be configured toscrew into the adapter 10. The adapter 10 may also comprise an adapterhose threaded shaft 14 extending therefrom, the adapter hose threadedshaft 14 being configured to engage with a collar 24, which may beconfigured to engage with a slip nut 22 on the hose 20, as shown in FIG.4. Thus, the hose 20 may attach to the adapter 12 using a collar 24 thatsecures the hose 20 to the adapter 10. In embodiments, the adapter 10may further comprise a handle 12, which when depressed may be configuredto change the flow of the water 36 into either the hose 20 or to theshower head 26, as desired. Thus, the handle 12 may be operativelyconnected to a valve configured to direct the flow of water 36.

The hose 20 may extend from the adapter, such as substantially downwardfrom the adapter 10 toward the shower floor, such that the hose 20 issubstantially parallel to a shower wall 34, wherein the hose 20 attachesthe adapter 10 to a water storage container/reservoir configured tostore a volume of water 36.

In embodiments, the device of the present disclosure may alert a user towhen water 36 flowing through the plumbing reaches a suitable bathingtemperature. For example, in some embodiments, the hose 20 extendingfrom the adapter 10 to the water storage container/reservoir maycomprise a thermochromic material configured to change color to indicatewhen warm or hot water is flowing therethrough. Thus, the hose 20 maydisplay a first color when cold or cool water is flowing therethroughand a second color when warm or hot water is flowing therethrough. Forexample, assuming a typical shower temperature of from about 100° F. toabout 108° F., the hose 20 may be configured to change color when thetemperature of the water 36 flowing therethrough reaches about 100° F.Alternatively, and depending on the preferences of the user, the hose 10may be configured to change color at a lower or higher temperature. Infact, the hose 20 may gradually change color from a first “cold” colorto a second “hot” color, such that the color change occurs graduallyover time.

The hose 20 may be made thermochromic in a variety of ways. For example,a conventional hose 20 may be painted with a thermochromic pain.Alternatively, a thermochromic material may be mixed in with thematerial used to make the hose 20 before manufacture of the hose 20,such that the hose material itself becomes thermochromic without theneed for applying a thermochromic outer layer to the hose 20.

In embodiments, the device of the present disclose may alert a user tothe temperature of the water flowing therethrough using any other knownmeans. For example, a thermometer or temperature gauge may be attachedto the device, such that the user is provided with a digital or analogreading of the actual temperature of the water flowing therethrough.

To use the device of the present disclosure, a user may attach theadapter inline with the shower plumbing between the escutcheon plate 30and the shower head 26. The user may then place the adapter handle 12into a position such that the water 36 is directed to flow into the hose20 and down into a storage container rather than to the shower head 26.The user may then start the water in the shower. Once the water reachesa suitable temperature, the device of the present disclosure may providethe user with such information, such as by the hose 20 changing color.Once the suitable bathing temperature has been reached, the user mayposition the adapter handle 12 such that the water flows through theadapter 10 and into the showerhead 26, bypassing the hose 20.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous designconfigurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of theinventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations andarrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of theinvention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather thannarrowed by the embodiments described above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for saving water before it reaches asuitable bathing temperature, the device comprising: an adapterconfigured to be positioned in line with shower plumbing before a showerhead; a hose extending from the adapter to a water storage container;and a mechanism for alerting a user to a temperature of water flowingthrough the adapter, wherein: the adapter is configured to direct wateraway from the shower head and into the hose when the temperature of thewater is not suitable for bathing.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein theadapter is configured to be positioned between an escutcheon plate andthe shower head.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the adapter comprisesan adapter escutcheon threaded shaft configured to engage with anescutcheon plate threaded receiver, such that the adapter is configuredto screw into the escutcheon plate.
 4. The device of claim 1, whereinthe adapter comprises an adapter threaded receiver configured to engagewith a shower head threaded shaft, such that the shower head isconfigured to screw into the adapter.
 5. The device of claim 1, whereinthe adapter comprises an adapter hose threaded shaft configured toengage with a collar that is configured to engage with a slip nut on thehose.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises an adapterhandle configured to provide a user with a mechanism for manuallydirecting the flow of water to a member selected from the groupconsisting of the shower hose and the hose.
 7. The device of claim 1,wherein the mechanism for alerting the user to the temperature of thewater is the hose, which is thermochromic.
 8. The device of claim 7,wherein the thermochromic hose changes from a first color to a secondcolor at about 100° F.
 9. A device for saving water before it reaches asuitable bathing temperature, the device comprising: an adapterconfigured to be positioned in line with shower plumbing between anescutcheon plate and a shower head; and a thermochromic hose extendingfrom the adapter to a water storage container, the thermochromic hoseconfigured to alert a user when a temperature of the water is notsuitable for bathing, wherein: the adapter comprises a handle configuredto direct water away from the shower head and into the hose when thetemperature of the water is not suitable for bathing.
 10. The device ofclaim 9, wherein the thermochromic hose changes from a first color to asecond color at about 100° F.